Jadu & Mitra Colony Khuti Puja 2026: The 79th Year Begins with a Banner That Gives Us Goosebumps
There's a very specific feeling that hits every true Kolkata Puja lover somewhere in the middle of monsoon — usually right around Rath Yatra — when the first Khuti Puja banners start circulating on WhatsApp and Facebook. It's not quite Pujo yet. The pandal poles haven't gone up, the dhakis haven't been booked, and Maa still feels months away. But something shifts. The countdown, unofficially, has begun.
This year, that feeling arrived with a banner from Behala's Jadu & Mitra Colony, announcing that Dakshin Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee is stepping into its 79th year — and honestly, once you see the artwork, you understand why this Puja has such a loyal following in South Kolkata.
The Banner That Everyone's Talking About
Let's start with the obvious — the banner itself is stunning. It features a hauntingly beautiful, watercolour-style rendering of Maa Durga's face, done in warm sepia and gold tones that feel almost like an old heirloom painting rather than a digital design. There's real artistry here: the intricate detailing on the crown, the deep expressive eyes, the soft blush on her cheeks — it doesn't scream for attention the way a lot of modern Puja banners do. It earns it.
Right beside the artwork, in bold red Bengali typography, sits the announcement: "৭৯ তম বর্ষ শুভারম্ভ" — the auspicious beginning of the 79th year — followed by "শারদ উৎসব ২০২৬" (Sharad Utsav 2026). It's minimal, it's elegant, and it respects the tradition without looking dated. A small decorative motif of a bamboo pole wrapped in marigold garlands — a visual nod to the Khuti Puja itself — anchors the right side of the design, tying the whole composition together beautifully.
If you're someone who follows Kolkata's Durga Puja season closely (and if you're reading this, we're guessing you are), you'll agree that a good banner reveal sets the tone for the entire year's Pujo. This one has already done its job.
What Exactly Is Khuti Puja, and Why Does It Matter?
For newer Puja enthusiasts, or for readers outside Bengal who've stumbled onto this post while researching Durga Puja traditions, let's take a step back.
Khuti Puja (also spelled Ghot Puja in some localities) is the ceremonial ground-breaking ritual that marks the official, spiritual start of a community's Durga Puja preparations. Long before the pandal is built, before the artisans of Kumartuli finish sculpting the idol, before a single light gets strung up — the committee gathers to plant and worship a bamboo pole, or "khuti," at the site where the pandal will eventually stand.
Think of it as the foundation stone ceremony, except infused with devotion. The pole is worshipped with proper Vedic rites, flowers, sindoor, and often a small ghot (sacred pot) — symbolically inviting the divine energy of Maa Durga into the physical space months before her actual arrival. For Puja committees across Kolkata, this isn't just ritual formality — it's a deeply emotional moment. It's when a neighbourhood collectively says, "We're doing this again this year," and that continuity, especially for a Puja in its 79th year, carries real weight.
Many of Kolkata's oldest and most respected community Pujas — much like the legendary clubs of North and South Kolkata — treat Khuti Puja with the same seriousness as the main Ashtami or Navami rituals. It's tradition-first, spectacle-later.
The Details: When, Where, and Who
Here's everything you need to know if you want to be part of this moment or simply follow along:
- Occasion: Khuti Puja marking the start of the 79th year of Sharad Utsav
- Date: Thursday, 16th July 2026 — deliberately chosen to coincide with the auspicious occasion of Rath Yatra
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Organising Committee: Dakshin Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee
- Location: Jadu O Mitra Colony, Behala, South Kolkata
- Year: 79th
Choosing Rath Yatra as the date isn't a coincidence — many Bengali Puja committees consider it one of the most spiritually significant days to begin any auspicious new undertaking, Durga Puja preparations included. It's a day already steeped in devotion, thanks to Lord Jagannath's chariot festival, which makes it a natural, symbolically rich choice to also kickstart Maa Durga's homecoming preparations.
The message accompanying the announcement is warm and simple, true to Bengali Puja tradition: "সবাইকে জানাই সাদের আমন্ত্রণ" — a heartfelt invitation extended to everyone, without exception. That inclusive spirit is really what community Puja is all about.
Why Behala's Jadu & Mitra Colony Deserves Your Attention This Year
Behala doesn't always get the same spotlight as College Square, Maddox Square, or the big-budget theme Pujas of North Kolkata, but locals know better. This part of South Kolkata has some genuinely soulful, community-driven Pujas that prioritise devotion, neighbourhood bonding, and artistic sincerity over flashy budgets and celebrity inaugurations.
A Puja hitting its 79th year is no small feat. That's nearly eight decades of a neighbourhood coming together, year after year, through economic ups and downs, through a pandemic, through changing times — to keep this tradition alive. It says something about the community's resilience and the emotional importance of Durga Puja in the everyday lives of Kolkata's residents.
If this is your first time hearing about Dakshin Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee, consider this your introduction to a Puja worth watching through the season — from Khuti Puja in July, right through to idol unveiling, pandal hopping season, and finally Bijoya Dashami in October.
What to Expect Next in the Countdown to Pujo 2026
Khuti Puja is really just the opening chapter. Over the coming months, expect the usual, beloved rhythm of Kolkata's Pujo calendar to unfold:
- Pandal construction begins in earnest, usually picking up pace by late August/early September.
- Theme reveals — many South Kolkata Pujas love to keep their concept under wraps until closer to the date, building anticipation.
- Idol-making updates from Kumartuli, as the clay figures slowly take shape.
- Cultural programs and community events, often held in the lead-up weeks.
- And finally, Mahalaya, followed by the five glorious days of Durga Puja itself.
We'll be tracking Jadu & Mitra Colony's Puja closely as the season progresses, so if Behala Pujas or community-driven Sharad Utsavs are your thing, this is one to bookmark.
A Season That's Only Just Beginning
There's something quietly moving about a Khuti Puja announcement. It doesn't have the grandeur of a celebrity inauguration or the drama of a big pandal reveal, but it has heart — the kind of heart that's kept Kolkata's Durga Puja tradition alive and thriving for generations. Dakshin Palli Sarbojanin Durgotsav Committee's 79-year journey, rooted in Jadu & Mitra Colony's tight-knit community spirit, is a lovely reminder that Durga Puja isn't just about grandeur — it's about continuity, devotion, and neighbourhoods coming together, one khuti at a time.
If you're in Behala on the morning of 16th July, do try and be part of this beautiful ceremony. And if you can't make it in person, follow their official updates on their Facebook page to stay connected to this Puja's journey throughout the season.
For more updates on Behala's Durga Puja committees, Khuti Puja announcements from across Kolkata, and everything else happening in the run-up to Sharad Utsav 2026, keep following Durga Puja of Kolkata — your one-stop guide to the city's most beloved festival.
